Oak Island Pier reopens after more than 2 years

Wednesday

OAK ISLAND -- The Oak Island Pier reopened this morning after being closed for more than two years, and residents and town officials couldn't be happier.

Martin Kerns has been a resident of Oak Island for many years. He has seen the piers rebuilt after storms over the years, and he had the opportunity to watch this one going up.

“It’s always been a great venue,” Kerns said. “You’d come out here and see families out here catching fish, you’d see the old-timers out here fishing. It’s a great way to spend the day walking up and down the pier.”

Leda Sloat is a life-long resident of the area and actually had her photo taken when the pier first opened around 1960. She said she had to be there when it reopened Wednesday morning.

“I love this pier,” Sloat said. “I go on it a lot just to watch the sunset. It’s a part of Oak Island.”

The pier closed after Hurricane Matthew’s waves tore the end off and damaged the structure in October 2016. State-of-the-art construction was incorporated into the new pier to help mitigate damage from storms. Grating runs through the center, which will allow water to flow through, reducing the pressure on the structure. The pier is handicap accessible, has aluminum railings and benches. Oak Island Mayor Cin Brochure said additional amenities will be added in the coming weeks.

Mayor Pro Tempore Jeff Winecoff pointed out that while Oak Island used to be home to the state’s longest pier, the new structure holds the title of being the state’s tallest at 27 feet high.

For now, citizens can expect to use the structure only for walking and observation. Work is ongoing on the far end of the pier, and that section remains closed. Town Manager David Kelly said the pier is expected to open for fishing on July 2. He added that on July 1, the town will mark its anniversary with a fireworks display from the newly completed pier.

The town has also leased the restaurant and the tackle shop.

Brochure said the project cost about $2.7 million, and the town received funds from several different sources for the project. Some funds came from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the town’s insurance company. The Golden Leaf Foundation provided $1.5 million, and the town received a $300,000 grant from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).

Brochure said rebuilding the pier was a “long, hard road,” which began immediately after the structure was destroyed by Matthew.

Reporter Renee Spencer can be reached at 910-343-2364 or RSpencer@StarNewsOnline.com